By the time you read this, Highland will have lost one of its iconic residents. Bill Dailey, Vietnam veteran, a U.S. Marine and retired postmaster of the Highland Post Office, has sold his home on Brown's Bridge Road and has moved to Dagsboro, Del.,to begin his next great adventure.

Bill is never too busy to lend a hand. He seems to know everyone in the area, remembering them by their name, their family status and always asks how they are doing. He always has a smile on his face.

When I got here in 1986, the post office was located in the trailer on the lot behind Serendipity (formerly Butterfields). What may not be widely known by many is that Bill was the driving force behind the construction of the "new" post office. He was instrumental in acquiring the land, designing the layout of the building and the parking lot, getting the money for all of this and then, acted as the general contractor.

Under his tenure, the post office became a local gathering place. Bill and the staff dressed up at Halloween. I remember one year that he had a hot-rod show and asked me to bring my Harley and be a contestant. The annual Highland Day celebration had its start with him.

Every year he collected money and gifts which he distributed to neighbors in need. He was the Highland secret Santa. Bill enlisted the help of Genie Harriss of Highland during the Christmas season to do the letter writing for a jolly old saint (wink-wink, nod-nod).

On May 31, a surprise farewell party was held for Bill at the LeReve Real Estate office of Terri Westerlund. Quite a few of the Highland residents turned out for the event. Bill, we salute you and wish you well as you start out on your next great adventure.

Highland resident Sue Cardaro, along with her husband Tom, are two very proud parents. Their son Tom, a Reservoir High School alumnus, graduated from Towson University this past January with a Bachelor of Science degree in American Studies. Then, their older daughter Emily, also alumnus of Reservoir High School, just graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design. And, bringing up the rear is the younger daughter Amy, a graduate of Glenelg Country School: She made the Dean's List for her spring semester at Catholic University.

Mark your calendars for June 29, the date of this year's Clarksville Picnic at St. Louis Catholic Church in Clarksville. As always, there's a midway with games of chance for kids of all ages, a merry-go-round, food booths serving up hot dogs, burgers, pizza, cotton candy, soft drinks, live music, a magician, face painting, a dunking booth, etc. A big draw, the white elephant sale, has something for just about everyone.

The centerpiece of the day, the dinner tent, is where you'll find the all-you-care-to-eat chicken and ham country-style dinner, with rolls, potato salad, succotash, beets, apple sauce and soft drinks for $13 for adults and kids 11 and older, $6 for children ages 5-11. Carry-out dinners are also available.

Several Reservoir High School students recently received accolades and were recognized during an evening event held at the school.

Graduate Brian Shouse was one of 12 recipients of the 2013 Howard County Executive's Award for Political Science. His academic success in social studies courses, his internship as a Student Page in Annapolis during the 2013 legislative session, his efforts as a member of the RHS Speech and Debate Team, and his volunteerism with the SAVE Environmental Club all contributed to this recognition.

Junior Caroline Desjardins-Park earned a perfect 2400 score on the SAT tests in March. Another junior, Eric Higgins, the SGA President and a Howard County Association of Student Councils Officer, won the 2013 HCASC Sydney L. Cousin Award for Excellence in Leadership and Service for his leadership skills, having been put to use during the year in organizing such programs as Homecoming and Spirit Week, Pep Rallies, the PB&J Drive for the Howard County Food Bank, and the "Don't Be A Hater … Be A Gator" Anti-Bullying Campaign.

Sophomore Stephen Sims was recognized as a 2013 Recognized Carson Scholar at the Carson Scholars Fund 17th annual awards banquet for his continued academic and humanitarian achievements.

Freshman Khalid Dunton was honored with the U.S. Presidential Youth Award at the Department of Veterans Affairs Volunteer Awards Banquet for his commitment, empathy, diligence, independence, punctuality and dependability shown while volunteering at the Loch Raven VA Community Living and Rehabilitation Center.